The New Blue Monster

This past weekend, the new 15th hole at the Blue Monster of the Doral Golf Resort in Miami made a splash at the WGC-Cadillac Championship. The distinct water feature of the peninsula hole is part of an ongoing 200-million dollar renovation by Donald Trump, who acquired the resort in 2011. Here’s a round-up of coverage:

Golf Digest: “The Donald wanted to make this an island green and Gil Hanse mercifully talked Trump out of building a longer, less interesting hole. Far more multidimensional than most island greens, Doral’s new-look 15th is a hybrid of TPC Sawgrass’s 17th [pictured at left, and available in cufflink form] and Augusta National’s 16th.”

ESPN: “The new 15th hole underwent maybe the largest transformation on the course, now shorter and featuring a peninsula-style green. Water surrounds the left side and back of the hole, and should players miss from the tee and hit the bunker on the right, they will have to hit a sand shot with the water lurking in the view of their recovery effort. The green also will present several different looks dependent on the hole location.”

Wall Street Journal: “Short pitch shots were blowing off the firm, new greens into greenside ponds, more of which are in play with the new design. The elite 68-player field hit more than 100 balls into the water in the second round.”

So you’ve got your man cave turned into a turn-of-the-century saloon, replete with spittoons and period-specific American flags. But the only booze in the place is drips and dregs of parties bygone, you know, some oxidized vermouth, triple sec, and a full-bottle of grenadine. Well, have no fear, I a…